US money has the same quality as UK money. It is "virtual" money only …. until the Chinese pull the plug or until nobody believes in it anymore. It is not „earned“ money. It is an illusion created electronically.

Whereas the Euro is "substantial" money because, you guessed it, there is substance behind it.

I believe I understand your point of view. We disagree about a few historical events, but I think reasonable people can have reasonable differences of opinion about history. And I believe you understand where I am "coming from". So, zero desire to argue.

I also think that while Italy has a "net consumer" of international security (but really, as a defeated and disarmed nation in the postwar period, we had little choice) in the past, as of 2011 we are doing our part. We have been spending over a billion euros per year in Afghanistan, had a major peace-keeping presence in southern Iraq, still have a major role in southern Lebanon, the Balkans, etc. and are a major full-role player in the Libyan conflict. So, I do not feel Italy is living off of US security at all. But if Sherry feels US installations should be withdrawn from Italy, she will not find any opposition in our country.
In reality, for the first time since 1942 (and really, even before), we have enough planes and ships to put us on a par with France and the UK (minus the nuclear forces we do not desire anyway).

Several on this blog frequently boast of their bi/tri/multi lingual abilities, compared to those pathetic Anglos who have no linguistic competence and who impose their language on the rest of the world. Germanambassador, the one who tells us that German visitors to the UK are stripped naked and insulted at immigration, ( and yet with whom several of you chose to dialogue) is a case in point, but he is not the only one. You must be short of ammunition if you need to confer with this creep.

Two points. A monolingual Dane would indeed be in a fix in today's worls, an Anglo is not; so the latter's natural reaction is "why bother?" Lazy? Perhaps, but there it is. It does NOT mean that he is not interested in foreign cultures, which is what many of you imply. The information is there, in English, in the millions of books, reviews...etc and of course internet.

Secondly, the vast majority of Europeans do NOT speak any language other than their own*. If I may take France as an example, you can get by in Paris with English only provided your business is simple, restaurants, hotels, airports and so on, but in the provinces it's hard going. I've witnessed this countless times.

Of the six 5th Republic presidents that France has had, four were monolingual. Chirac and Giscard d'Estaing could manage a two-minute bout of poor English before they flagged.

* When I say Europeans, I of course exclude peoples with minority languages, Danish, Dutch, Swedish...etc.

The US uses bases in Europe as tactical staging areas for our forces in the Middle East. By stockpiling in Europe we assure smooth flow of men and material to our fighting forces. Our wounded benefit by a short flight to Germany where complete facilities are available. Strategically, Europe is a glacis against forces beyond borders that mean us harm.

I won't go into the benefits Europe receives since these are so numerous and self-evident, and I have already offered a partial list.

But, sherry, fact is, we are dealing with a number of deniers, haters and nincompoops here that wish nothing more than to stick their finger in America's eye. So don't let it bug ya.

"While there is a real risk that with Germany tilting towards decline, it could be bankrupted by the bankrupt Greeks,"

Quite possible Germany is going bankrupt from Merkel's behavior in Washington, apparently she came with a begging bowl for American taxpayer money to help Germany come up with the money to pay for the latest loans to keep Greece from defaulting.

You will of course notice that the German media will keep a defeaning silence over US money to help with Greece's loan thereyby reducing the amount of money Germany would have to fork out. It wouldn't fit in with their anti-Americanism where the USA can do no good unlike "enlightened humane" EU.

Not to mention the Germans on this blog such as Enlisted and Pumpernickel, Josh too will keep a defeaning silence about US money going for Greek loans.

They are funny, aren't they, the two federasts. MC talks about the trade that existed before you came along. What's she talking about the artillery duels Germany and France made to take the place of retail rapine?

But still, ya gotta hand it to her, Dik Dirt le Bougre. Priceless! I've sent copies to all my friends.

"Then you will be able to think and you will accept the obvious: US presence in Europe is first of all for US's benefit :))"

You are just parroting the propaganda of Europe's political and media elites.

Can you think for yourself and tell us exactly what benefits the US derives from its military presence in Europe.

And please no more parroting of your elites, tell us exactly in your own words what benefits we derive bearing in mind our geographical isolation protected by two vast oceans, sharing a border with two harmless countries which are of no military threat whatsoever.

While there is a real risk that with Germany tilting towards decline, it could be bankrupted by the bankrupt Greeks, "German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has said the current aid package for Greece is "insufficient", adding there is a "real risk" of default if funds are not released soon."

Which roughly translates in to Germany can't afford to bail out its own banks, and dearly wants the rest of the world to bail them out of impending bankruptcy.

Spleen Pasta, wildly acclaimed exponent of ideas discredited fifty years ago, passed away today, asking, saintlike, only to be buried in his 1959 Trabant. But the seat fell off and had to be uncermoniously reattached at graveside before interment. To the car, not the man.

Forlana:"viva, yet another futile attempt to wriggle out of accepting openly - yes, US is in Europe first of all for US's interest."

The shift in your nuance is evident even to a monolingual. You can prevaricate in how many, seven languages? Your superficiality becomes apparent even to Tiresias.

I won't even begin a discussion with you on the true merits of the case, because you have shown yourself to be bereft of reason, a veritable Phaedra, consumed body and soul with desire to be taken by your nemesis, your Hippolytus.

But I will not run my horses over the cliff for you. Run to your Perseus while there is some shred of self-respect left in you. Let the palsied dottard spread his wrinkled palms over your flesh and recount the tale of the minotaur to you yet again.

Time for my nap. I will lie on the couch with the curtain open. My dachshund will join me. Then I will have coffee and see if you have quitted your agony or followed you model into the shades. Meantime, know that after coffee, I may walk to my studio and begin sketches for my next astonishment to the world. Or I may clip my toenails and watch cartoons or perhaps have a bath, until its time for some ice creme or perhaps some popcorn. I keep my tv control in the drawer of the table to the right of my recliner.